MAC Announces 2017 Football Schedule
MAC ANNOUNCES 2017 FOOTBALL SCHEDULE
2017 schedule features 22 late October and November nationally televised games on ESPN2, ESPNU, ESPN3 and CBS Sports Network
Cleveland, Ohio – The Mid-American Conference announced the 2017 football schedule today. Highlighting the schedule will be 22 nationally televised games during late October and November slated for national television on ESPN2, ESPNU, ESPN3 and CBS Sports Network as the conference race unfolds in both the East and West divisions.
An updated release of the MAC 2017 football schedule will be released in June with kick times and a television schedule for the first three weeks of the regular season and midweek games during late October and November. All other game kick times and television will be announced 12 days prior to the scheduled game.
The regular season will conclude with the 21st Marathon MAC Football Championship game at a date to be determined from Ford Field in Detroit. This will mark the 14th Marathon MAC Football Championship game at Ford Field, home of the Detroit Lions, Super Bowl XL, and the 2009 NCAA Men’s Final Four.
For the 10th year in a row, league schools will face a formidable non-conference slate of opponents from the following Football Bowl Subdivision conferences – ACC, Big Ten, Big 12, Pac-12, SEC and Notre Dame. In addition, the Conference will also face opponents from the American Athletic Conference, Conference USA, Mountain West Conference, Sun Belt Conference and Independent Army.
Last year MAC champion Western Michigan was ranked No. 15 in the final Associated Press Top 25 Poll. MAC programs will face six non-conference foes that finished in the final AP Top 25 poll: Clemson (1), USC (3), Penn State (7), Miami (20), Louisville (21) and San Diego State (25).
A total of nine non-conference games will feature a Big Ten opponent (Illinois; Michigan State (2); Minnesota; Nebraska; Northwestern; Penn State; Purdue; Rutgers). The MAC will face foes from the ACC (6—Boston College (2), Clemson, Louisville, Miami, Syracuse), SEC (1—Kentucky), Pac-12 (1-USC), Big 12 (3—Iowa State; Kansas (2)); and Independent Notre Dame and Army (2).
The MAC will also face opponents from the American Athletic Conference (2— Cincinnati, Tulsa), Mountain West (2—Nevada, San Diego State), Conference USA (7—Charlotte, Florida Atlantic, Marshall (2), Middle Tennessee, UAB, Western Kentucky) and Sun Belt Conference (2—Idaho, Troy).
This season the MAC will host nine games against FBS non-conference opponents.
MAC Home Games vs. FBS Non-Conference opponents:
-Boston College (ACC) at NIU on Sept. 1;
-Charlotte (C-USA) at Eastern Michigan on Sept. 1;
-UAB (C-USA) at Ball State on Sept. 9;
-Cincinnati (American Athletic) at Miami on Sept. 16;
-Idaho (Sun Belt) at Western Michigan on Sept. 16;
-Iowa State (Big 12) at Akron on Sept. 16;
-Kansas (Big 12) at Ohio on Sept. 16;
-Tulsa (American Athletic) at Toledo on Sept. 16;
-Florida Atlantic (C-USA) at Buffalo on Sept. 23.
MID-AMERICAN CONFERENCE
Founded in 1946, the Mid-American Conference is an NCAA Division I, 12-member conference that sponsors 23 championships and is one of ten members of the Football Bowl Subdivison (FBS). With total enrollment of nearly 300,000 students, the league represents institutions of higher learning in five (5) states - Illinois, Indiana, Michigan, New York, and Ohio.
Current MAC schools that hold full membership and the year they joined are -- East Division: University of Akron (1992), Bowling Green State University (1952), University at Buffalo (1998), Kent State University (1951), Miami University (1947), Ohio University (1946). West Division: Ball State University (1973), Central Michigan University (1971), Eastern Michigan University (1971), Northern Illinois University (1975-86, rejoined in 1997), University of Toledo (1950), Western Michigan University (1947). The conference office is based in Cleveland, Ohio.
2017 MAC Football Schedule (composite by date)
All times listed ET
*Conference Game
Aug. 31 – Thursday
Buffalo at Minnesota
Elon at Toledo
Rhode Island at Central Michigan
Sep. 1 – Friday
Boston College at NIU (CBS Sports Network)
Charlotte at Eastern Michigan
Sep. 2 – Saturday
Akron at Penn State
Ball State at Illinois
Bowling Green at Michigan State
Hampton at Ohio
Kent State at Clemson
Miami at Marshall
Western Michigan at USC
Sep. 8 – Friday
Ohio at Purdue
Sep. 9 – Saturday
Arkansas-Pine Bluff at Akron
Austin Peay at Miami
Buffalo at Army
Central Michigan at Kansas
Eastern Illinois at NIU
Eastern Michigan at Rutgers
Howard at Kent State
South Dakota at Bowling Green
Toledo at Nevada
UAB at Ball State
Western Michigan at Michigan State
Sep. 16 – Saturday
Bowling Green at Northwestern
Central Michigan at Syracuse
Cincinnati at Miami
Colgate at Buffalo
Idaho at Western Michigan
Iowa State at Akron
Kansas at Ohio
Kent State at Marshall
NIU at Nebraska
Tennessee Tech at Ball State
Tulsa at Toledo
Sep. 23 – Saturday
Akron at Troy
Ball State at Western Kentucky
Bowling Green at Middle Tennessee
Florida Atlantic at Buffalo
Kent State at Louisville
*Miami at Central Michigan
*Ohio at Eastern Michigan
Toledo at Miami (Fla.)
Wagner at Western Michigan
Sep. 30 – Saturday
*Akron at Bowling Green
*Ball State at Western Michigan
*Buffalo at Kent State
Central Michigan at Boston College
Eastern Michigan at Kentucky
Miami at Notre Dame
NIU at San Diego State
Ohio at UMass
Oct. 7 – Saturday
*Ball State at Akron
*Bowling Green at Miami
*Central Michigan at Ohio
*Eastern Michigan at Toledo
*Kent State at NIU
*Western Michigan at Buffalo
Oct. 14 – Saturday
*Akron at Western Michigan
Eastern Michigan at Army
*Miami at Kent State
*NIU at Buffalo
*Ohio at Bowling Green
*Toledo at Central Michigan
Oct. 21 – Saturday
*Akron at Toledo
*Buffalo at Miami
*Central Michigan at Ball State
*Kent State at Ohio
*NIU at Bowling Green
*Western Michigan at Eastern Michigan
Oct. 26 – Thursday
*Eastern Michigan at NIU (CBS Sports Network/ESPN3)
*Toledo at Ball State (CBS Sports Network/ESPN3)
Oct. 28 – Saturday
*Buffalo at Akron
Oct. 31 – Tuesday
*Bowling Green at Kent State (ESPN2/ESPNU)
*Miami at Ohio (ESPN2/ESPNU)
Nov. 1 – Wednesday
*Central Michigan at Western Michigan (ESPN2)
Nov. 2 – Thursday
*Ball State at Eastern Michigan (ESPNU/CBS Sports Network)
*NIU at Toledo (ESPNU/CBS Sports Network)
Nov. 7 – Tuesday
*Akron at Miami (ESPN2/ESPNU)
*Bowling Green at Buffalo (ESPN2/ESPNU)
Nov. 8 – Wednesday
*Eastern Michigan at Central Michigan (ESPN2/ESPNU/CBS Sports Network)
*Kent State at Western Michigan (ESPN2/ESPNU/CBS Sports Network)
*Toledo at Ohio (ESPN2/ESPNU/CBS Sports Network)
Nov. 9 – Thursday
*Ball State at NIU (CBS Sports Network)
Nov. 14 – Tuesday
*Central Michigan at Kent State (ESPN2/ESPNU)
*Ohio at Akron (ESPN2/ESPNU)
Nov. 15 – Wednesday
*Eastern Michigan at Miami (ESPN2/ESPNU/CBS Sports Network)
*Toledo at Bowling Green (ESPN2/ESPNU/CBS Sports Network)
*Western Michigan at NIU (ESPN2/ESPNU/CBS Sports Network)
Nov. 16 – Thursday
*Buffalo at Ball State (CBS Sports Network)
Nov. 21 – Tuesday
*Bowling Green at Eastern Michigan (ESPNU/ESPN3)
*Kent State at Akron (ESPNU/ESPN3)
*Miami at Ball State (ESPNU/ESPN3)
Nov. 24 – Friday
*NIU at Central Michigan (ESPNU/CBS Sports Network/ESPN3)
*Ohio at Buffalo (ESPNU/CBS Sports Network/ESPN3)
*Western Michigan at Toledo (ESPNU/CBS Sports Network/ESPN3)
TBA
East Division Champion vs. West Division Champion
Marathon MAC Championship Game, Time and Television TBA
At Ford Field in Detroit, Mich.
2017 MAC Football Schedule (composite by school)
All times listed ET
*Conference Game
EAST DIVISION
Akron
Sep.
2 at Penn State
9 Arkansas-Pine Bluff
16 Iowa State
23 at Troy
30 *at Bowling Green
Oct.
7 *Ball State
14 *at Western Michigan
21 *at Toledo
28 *Buffalo
Nov.
7 *at Miami (ESPN2/ESPNU)
14 *Ohio (ESPN2/ESPNU)
21 *Kent State (ESPNU/ESPN3)
Bowling Green
Sep.
2 at Michigan State
9 South Dakota
16 at Northwestern
23 at Middle Tennessee
30 *Akron
Oct.
7 *at Miami
14 *Ohio
21 *NIU
31 *at Kent State (ESPN2/ESPNU)
Nov.
7 *at Buffalo (ESPN2/ESPNU)
15 *Toledo (ESPN2/ESPNU/CBS Sports Network)
21 *at Eastern Michigan (ESPNU/ESPN3)
Buffalo
Aug.
31 at Minnesota
Sep.
9 at Army
16 Colgate
23 Florida Atlantic
30 *at Kent State
Oct.
7 *Western Michigan
14 *NIU
21 *at Miami
28 *at Akron
Nov.
7 *Bowling Green (ESPN2/ESPNU)
16 *at Ball State (CBS Sports Network)
24 *Ohio (ESPNU/CBS Sports Network/ESPN3)
Kent State
Sep.
2 at Clemson
9 Howard
16 at Marshall
23 at Louisville
30 *Buffalo
Oct.
7 *at NIU
14 *Miami
21 *at Ohio
31 *Bowling Green (ESPN2/ESPNU)
Nov.
8 *at Western Michigan (ESPN2/ESPNU/CBS Sports Network)
14 *Central Michigan (ESPN2/ESPNU)
21 *at Akron (ESPNU/ESPN3)
Miami
Sep.
2 at Marshall
9 Austin Peay
16 Cincinnati
23 *at Central Michigan
30 at Notre Dame
Oct.
7 *Bowling Green
14 *at Kent State
21 *Buffalo
31 *at Ohio (ESPN2/ESPNU)
Nov.
7 *Akron (ESPN2/ESPNU)
15 *Eastern Michigan (ESPN2/ESPNU/CBS Sports Network)
21 *at Ball State (ESPNU/ESPN3)
Ohio
Sep.
2 Hampton
8 at Purdue
16 Kansas
23 *at Eastern Michigan
30 at UMass
Oct.
7 *Central Michigan
14 *at Bowling Green
21 *Kent State
31 *Miami (ESPN2/ESPNU)
Nov.
8 *Toledo (ESPN2/ESPNU/CBS Sports Network)
14 *at Akron (ESPN2/ESPNU)
24 *at Buffalo (ESPNU/CBS Sports Network/ESPN3)
WEST DIVISION
Ball State
Sep.
2 at Illinois
9 UAB
16 Tennessee Tech
23 at Western Kentucky
30 *at Western Michigan
Oct.
7 *at Akron
21 *Central Michigan
26 *Toledo (CBS Sports Network/ESPN3)
Nov.
2 *at Eastern Michigan (ESPNU/CBS Sports Network)
9 *at NIU (CBS Sports Network)
16 *Buffalo (CBS Sports Network)
21 *Miami (ESPNU/ESPN3)
Central Michigan
Aug.
31 Rhode Island
Sept.
9 at Kansas
16 at Syracuse
23 *Miami
30 at Boston College
Oct.
7 *at Ohio
14 *Toledo
21 *at Ball State
Nov.
1 *at Western Michigan (ESPN2)
8 *Eastern Michigan (ESPN2/ESPNU/CBS Sports Network)
14 *at Kent State (ESPN2/ESPNU)
24 *NIU (ESPNU/CBS Sports Network/ESPN3)
Eastern Michigan
Sep.
1 Charlotte
9 at Rutgers
23 *Ohio
30 at Kentucky
Oct.
7 *at Toledo
14 at Army
21 *Western Michigan
26 *at NIU (CBS Sports Network/ESPN3)
Nov.
2 *Ball State (ESPNU/CBS Sports Network)
8 *at Central Michigan (ESPN2/ESPNU/CBS Sports Network)
15 *at Miami (ESPN2/ESPNU/CBS Sports Network)
21 *Bowling Green (ESPNU/ESPN3)
Northern Illinois (NIU)
Sep.
1 Boston College (CBS Sports Network)
9 Eastern Illinois
16 at Nebraska
30 at San Diego State
Oct.
7 *Kent State
14 *at Buffalo
21 *at Bowling Green
26 *Eastern Michigan (CBS Sports Network/ESPN3)
Nov.
2 *at Toledo (ESPNU/CBS Sports Network)
9 *Ball State (CBS Sports Network)
15 *Western Michigan (ESPN2/ESPNU/CBS Sports Network)
24 *at Central Michigan (ESPNU/CBS Sports Network/ESPN3)
Toledo
Aug.
31 Elon
Sep.
9 at Nevada
16 Tulsa
23 at Miami (Fla.)
Oct.
7 *Eastern Michigan
14 *at Central Michigan
21 *Akron
26 *at Ball State (CBS Sports Network/ESPN3)
Nov.
2 *NIU (ESPNU/CBS Sports Network)
8 *at Ohio (ESPN2/ESPNU/CBS Sports Network)
15 *at Bowling Green (ESPN2/ESPNU/CBS Sports Network)
24 *Western Michigan (ESPNU/CBS Sports Network/ESPN3)
Western Michigan
Sep.
2 at USC
9 at Michigan State
16 Idaho
23 Wagner
30 *Ball State
Oct.
7 *at Buffalo
14 *Akron
21 *at Eastern Michigan
Nov.
1 *Central Michigan (ESPN2)
8 *Kent State (ESPN2/ESPNU/CBS Sports Network)
15 *at NIU (ESPN2/ESPNU/CBS Sports Network)
24 *at Toledo (ESPNU/CBS Sports Network/ESPN3)
